Does talking about racism make you anxious? You’re not alone. When the topic of racism comes up, many white people are reluctant to join the conversation. They fear they’ll say the wrong thing, sound stupid, or worst of all, be called a racist. In Anxious to Talk about It: Helping White Christians Talk Faithfully about Racism, professor and pastor Carolyn B. Helsel draws on her successful research working with white congregations to help us recognize and explore the anxious emotions around race … and begin to work through them.

In this special Anxious to Talk about It resource, featuring excerpts from the brand-new book, Helsel shares powerful personal stories and spiritual practices to help you begin to overcome your anxiety, so that you’re better equipped to join the hard conversations on race and racism today.

Carolyn B. Helsel teaches preaching at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary and is a minister in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). She holds a PhD from Emory University and MDiv and ThM degrees from Princeton Seminary. Native to Texas, she is currently studying the experience of Texan identity and how that relates to race.